And all three could have been created using set bonuses and unchanged concepts. The only difference is that +3 instead of +2.
You are again ignoring that allowing for the floating ASI allows the player for freedom to create their character.
To me, there is no difference to a halfling claiming a +2 racial bonus to Str is because halflings are a strong race-when they are not-and a 1st level fighter claiming that they should be able to cast wizard spells.
Saying "It's not fair that goliaths get +2 Str and halflings don't" is like saying "It's not fair that elves get Darkvision and halflings don't". Every race choice, every character creation choice, gives you what they give you, and don't give you what they don't give you. It's not unfair, you selected those game elements.
A number has no flavor, no biology, no purpose in and of itself. It's dull. It doesn't have to exist at all.
Traits are actually
interesting. They tell you things about the race that flat numbers don't.
And it's a self-selected bar for 'effectiveness'; 16 is good enough but 15 is impossible to play as an effective character?
And if I don't want a 16 in a stat, but instead want two 10s, or two 14s, or two 15s?
But that's OK. You're saying that people who want a 16 in a stat are playing wrong.
Remember, I have absolutely no problem with a halfling (for example) putting 9 points out of their 27 into Str because assigning ability scores is about that individual. Nor have I a problem with choosing ASIs at 4th/8th etc to improvements to Str, because that reflects the things your PC chose to train.
But I do have a problem with assigning ability score bonuses from race that are nothing to do with race! Just like I would have a problem giving a fighter features from a wizard just because you'd rather have spellcasting for your fighter than a fighting style.
But racial ability score bonuses ARE part of the game's attempt to realise the race's concept in the mechanics, just as much as all the other traits.
And these ASIs have changed over time.
Githzerai, when they were introduced as a PC race in Planescape, had a -1 penalty to Wisdom. Now they have a +2 bonus.
Aasimar, also from Planescape, had +1 Wisdom and +1 Strength... except for the ones who had +1 Cha instead of Strength. Player's choice, which was weird from a 2e perspective.
Genasi all had bonuses to Constitution as well as another stat (and all had penalties to Charisma, due to being so alien) ; now, only Earth genasi are particularly sturdy.
Gnomes in 1e got no stat bonuses, but instead got extra hp if they had sufficiently high Con. They only got an Int bump in 2e. And in 3e, they got +2 Con, -2 Strength.
Firbolgs in 2e had +2 Strength and -2 Wisdom. Now they have +2 Wisdom, +1 Strength.
The poor little kobold had
no attribute bonuses in 2e while still getting -1 to Strength and Con; they got even more screwed in 3e, where they could be made with -4 Strength, +2 Dex, and -2 Con. They were originally made for 5e with a Strength penalty, but that's been errata'd away, so a two-foot-six kobold and a nearly 6-foot-tall hobgoblin are now equally strong. Makes sense, yes?
And hobgoblins, in 2e, had -1 Charisma and no bonuses, could be made with +2 Dex, +2 Con in 3e, and now have Con +2, Int +1.
The Lizardfolk had no bonuses
or penalties in 2e, while in 3e they had +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, and in 5e, +2 Con, +1 Wis.
Half-Elves had no ASIs in 2e or 3x; now they get +2 Cha and a floating +1.
Warforged in 3.x had no ASIs; now, they get +2 Con and a floating +1.
Kalashtars also didn't get any ASIs but now have Wis +2, Cha +1... but this was originally Wis +1, Cha +1, and a floating +1.
So, did the core concepts of each of these races change as much as their ASIs did? Or did the concepts envisioned by their flavor text and special abilities remain mostly the same while the ASIs changed?
Also, we no longer have racial penalties or class and level limitations for them. The one attempt to bring them into 5e was met with such disapproval that they were errata'd away forever. Are you upset about that? These penalties were
just as important for "realizing the race's concept."